Vertebral prosthesis

Abstract

A vertebral prosthesis is adapted to be implanted adjacent a spinal disc prosthesis. According to one embodiment, the vertebral prosthesis includes a shaft and an endplate coupled to one end of the shaft. The endplate is adapted to be implanted adjacent a disc prosthesis, thereby obviating the need to fuse the endplate to an adjacent vertebral body.

1. A spinal implant system, comprising:
 a vertebral prosthesis having a support and a prosthesis endplate, the vertebral prosthesis having a longitudinal axis configured to be aligned along the axis of a spine, wherein the support comprises a first portion slidably received in a second portion and wherein the height of the vertebral prosthesis is adjusted by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion, wherein the prosthesis endplate and the support are adapted to be at least one of threaded, snapped, or twist-locked onto one another; 
 a locking ring adapted to secure the first portion relative to the second portion; 
 an artificial spinal disc, comprising:
 a disc endplate; and 
 a disc core coupled to the disc endplate; 
 wherein the artificial spinal disc is coupled to the prosthesis endplate, the prosthesis endplate having a structure adapted to interlock with the artificial spinal disc, and further wherein the disc core is configured to allow the disc endplate to move relative to the prosthesis endplate whereby the artificial spinal disc acts as a joint to permit a range of motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the spine; and 
 
 a pedicle screw retainer coupled to at least one of the prosthesis endplate and the support, the pedicle screw retainer comprising:
 a top; 
 a bottom; 
 a side wall defined between the top and the bottom; and 
 at least one aperture defined in the side wall, the aperture having an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertebral prosthesis, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a pedicle screw extending through a pedicle located adjacent to the pedicle screw retainer. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The spinal implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure prevents rotation of at least a portion of the disc core relative to the prosthesis endplate. 
     
     
       3. The spinal implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure is at least one of a flange and a recess. 
     
     
       4. A spinal implant system, comprising:
 a vertebral prosthesis having a support and a prosthesis endplate, the vertebral prosthesis having a longitudinal axis configured to be aligned along the axis of a spine, wherein the support comprises a first portion slidably received in a second portion and wherein the height of the vertebral prosthesis is adjusted by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion, wherein the prosthesis endplate and the support are adapted to be at least one of threaded, snapped, or twist-locked onto one another; 
 a locking ring adapted to secure the first portion relative to the second portion; 
 an artificial spinal disc, comprising:
 a disc endplate; and 
 a disc core coupled to the disc endplate; 
 wherein the artificial spinal disc is coupled to the prosthesis endplate, and further wherein the disc core is configured to allow the disc endplate to move relative to the prosthesis endplate whereby the artificial spinal disc acts as a joint to permit a range of motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the spine; and 
 
 a pedicle screw retainer coupled to at least one of the prosthesis endplate and the support, the pedicle screw retainer comprising:
 a top; 
 a bottom; 
 a side wall defined between the top and the bottom; and 
 at least one aperture defined in the side wall, the aperture having an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertebral prosthesis, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a pedicle screw extending through a pedicle located adjacent to the pedicle screw retainer. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The spinal implant system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second prosthesis endplate coupled to the support, the second prosthesis endplate adapted to be coupled to a second artificial spinal disc. 
     
     
       6. The spinal implant system of  claim 4 , further comprising a second prosthesis endplate coupled to the support, the second prosthesis endplate having teeth adapted to be coupled to a bone. 
     
     
       7. A vertebral prosthesis system including a vertebral prosthesis and a spinal disc prosthesis, the vertebral prosthesis comprising:
 a shaft having a longitudinal axis configured to be aligned along the axis of a spine, the shaft comprising a first portion slidably received in a second portion and wherein the height of the vertebral prosthesis is adjusted by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion; 
 a locking ring adapted to secure the first portion relative to the second portion; 
 a prosthesis endplate coupled to one end of the shaft, the prosthesis endplate adapted to be implanted adjacent the disc prosthesis, thereby obviating the need to fuse the prosthesis endplate to an adjacent vertebra, wherein the prosthesis endplate and the shaft are adapted to be at least one of threaded, snapped, or twist-locked onto one another; and 
 a pedicle screw retainer coupled to at least one of the shaft and the prosthesis endplate, the pedicle screw retainer comprising:
 a top; 
 a bottom; 
 a side wall defined between the top and the bottom; and 
 at least one aperture defined in the side wall, the aperture having an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a pedicle screw extending through a pedicle located adjacent to the pedicle screw retainer; 
 
 wherein the disc prosthesis comprises a disc endplate and a disc core coupled to the disc endplate, and further wherein the disc core is configured to allow the disc endplate to move relative to the prosthesis endplate whereby the disc prosthesis acts as a joint to permit a range of motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the spine. 
 
     
     
       8. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second prosthesis endplate coupled to an other end of the shaft, wherein the second prosthesis endplate comprises one or more teeth configured to directly interface with an other adjacent vertebra, thereby allowing fusion of the vertebral prosthesis with the other adjacent vertebra while preserving motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the adjacent vertebra. 
     
     
       9. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 7 , further comprising a second prosthesis endplate, wherein the second prosthesis endplate is adapted to be implanted adjacent a second disc prosthesis. 
     
     
       10. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 7 , wherein the shaft is at least partially constructed of a mesh. 
     
     
       11. A vertebral prosthesis system comprising:
 a vertebral prosthesis comprising:
 a shaft having a longitudinal axis configured to be aligned along the axis of a spine; 
 a first prosthesis endplate coupled to a first end of the shaft, the first prosthesis endplate having a recess, wherein the first prosthesis endplate and the shaft are adapted to be at least one of threaded, snapped, or twist-locked onto one another; 
 a second prosthesis endplate coupled to a second end of the shaft; and 
 a pedicle screw retainer coupled to at least one of the shaft, the first prosthesis endplate, and the second prosthesis endplate, the pedicle screw retainer comprising:
 a top; 
 a bottom; 
 a side wall defined between the top and the bottom; and 
 at least one aperture defined in the side wall, the aperture having an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a pedicle screw extending through a pedicle located adjacent to the pedicle screw retainer; 
 
 
 an artificial spinal disc, comprising:
 a disc endplate; and 
 a disc core coupled to the disc endplate; 
 wherein the recess of the first prosthesis endplate is adapted to receive the artificial spinal disc, wherein the recess prevents rotation of at least a portion of the disc core relative to the first prosthesis endplate, and further wherein the disc core is configured to allow the disc endplate to move relative to the first prosthesis endplate whereby the artificial spinal disc acts as a joint to permit a range of motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the spine; and 
 
 a pedicle screw received by the at least one aperture of the pedicle screw retainer. 
 
     
     
       12. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 11 , wherein the second prosthesis endplate comprises one or more teeth configured to interface with an adjacent vertebra. 
     
     
       13. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 11 , wherein the second prosthesis endplate has a second recess adapted to receive a second artificial spinal disc. 
     
     
       14. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 13 , wherein the second recess prevents rotation of at least a portion of a disc core of the second artificial spinal disc relative to the second prosthesis endplate. 
     
     
       15. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is adjustable to change the height of the shaft. 
     
     
       16. The vertebral prosthesis system of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is at least partially constructed of a mesh. 
     
     
       17. A spinal implant system, comprising:
 a vertebral prosthesis having a support and a prosthesis endplate, wherein the support comprises a first portion slidably received in a second portion and wherein the height of the vertebral prosthesis is adjusted by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion, the vertebral prosthesis having a longitudinal axis configured to be aligned along the axis of a spine; 
 a locking ring adapted to secure the first portion relative to the second portion; 
 a set of interlocking teeth on the first portion and the second portion, the interlocking teeth adapted to engage one another to secure the first portion relative to the second portion; 
 a pedicle screw adapted to secure the vertebral prosthesis to a pedicle; 
 an artificial spinal disc having a disc endplate and a disc core coupled to the disc endplate, wherein the disc core is coupled to the prosthesis endplate, and further wherein the disc core is configured to allow the disc endplate to move relative to the prosthesis endplate whereby the artificial disc acts as a joint to permit a range of motion between the vertebral prosthesis and the spine; and 
 a pedicle screw retainer coupled to at least one of the prosthesis endplate and the support, the pedicle screw retainer comprising:
 a top; 
 a bottom; 
 a side wall defined between the top and the bottom; and 
 at least one aperture defined in the side wall, the aperture having an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vertebral prosthesis, wherein the aperture is configured to receive a pedicle screw extending through a pedicle located adjacent to the pedicle screw retainer. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The spinal implant system of  claim 17 , further comprising the pedicle screw received by the at least one aperture of the pedicle screw retainer. 
     
     
       19. The spinal implant system of  claim 17 , wherein the support is at least partially constructed of a mesh. 
     
     
       20. The spinal implant system of  claim 17 , wherein the prosthesis endplate has a structure adapted to interlock with the artificial spinal disc. 
     
     
       21. The spinal implant system of  claim 17 , further comprising a second prosthesis endplate coupled to the support, the second prosthesis endplate adapted to be coupled to a second artificial spinal disc. 
     
     
       22. The spinal implant system of  claim 17 , further comprising a second prosthesis endplate coupled to the support, the second prosthesis endplate having teeth adapted to be coupled to a bone.